The former Surrey-Fleetwood Park middle distance standout is starting to dominate in the big pond of U.S. collegiate track with the …

]]>What a weekend it’s turned out to be for The Province’s 2011 Head of the Class honouree Keffri Neal.

The former Surrey-Fleetwood Park middle distance standout is starting to dominate in the big pond of U.S. collegiate track with the Kentucky Wildcats, just as he did in leaving the B.C. high school ranks as its 800- and 1,500-metre champion three years ago.

On Friday, in Eugene, Ore., Neal finished third in the 800-metres at the NCAA Div. 1 track and field championships, passing four runners over the final 50 metres to claim bronze in a new personal-best time of 1:46.39.

The time was over a second better than his previous best for Neal.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/06/14/hoc-2011-honouree-keffri-neal-of-fleetwood-park-blazes-to-800m-bronze-at-ncaa-d1-championships/feed/0Keffri NealhowardtsumuraUni notes May 25.14: Bronzed ‘Birds ladies fashion best-ever finish at NAIA track nationalshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/05/25/uni-notes-may-25-14-bronzed-birds-ladies-fashion-best-ever-finish-at-naia-track-nationals/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/05/25/uni-notes-may-25-14-bronzed-birds-ladies-fashion-best-ever-finish-at-naia-track-nationals/#commentsSun, 25 May 2014 18:59:50 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=153639You can excuse the UBC Thunderbirds track and field program for wanting to call Alabama a sweet home away from home.

The ‘Birds placed both their women’s and men’s teams in the top five of team standings as the NAIA …

]]>You can excuse the UBC Thunderbirds track and field program for wanting to call Alabama a sweet home away from home.

The ‘Birds placed both their women’s and men’s teams in the top five of team standings as the NAIA national outdoor championships which wrapped up Saturday in Gulf Shores, located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

UBC, in fact, sat atop the women’s standings heading into the final race of the day. But after failing to qualify for the 1,600-metre relay, the ‘Birds could only watch as Indiana Tech(102 points) and Oklahoma Baptist (101) each hurdled past UBC (95), whose third-place finish was still the best in the program’s history at the NAIA championships.

Indiana Tech also won on the men’s side, with UBC finishing in fifth place.

Highlighting the day was the tenacity of UBC’s men’s and women’s 3,000-metre steeplechasers.

Justin Kent, the Surrey native, finished nearly 10 seconds clear of the field in a time of 8:52.92, while Calgary native Maria Bernard won her race in 10:25.87, with teammate Micha Gutmanis was third.

On the women’s side, Devan Wiebe put back-to-back third-place finishes in the 800 metres behind her at nationals, winning in 2:08.17.

Joy Spear Chief-Morris was second in the 100 metres (11.68) while Amelie de Fenoyl, who earlier in the week had won silver in the 10,000 metres, came back to win silver in the 5,000 metres (17:32.94).

On the men’s side, Luc Bruchet, in the final race of his UBC career, was unable to defend his status as NAIA 1,500 metres champ, finishing third in a time of 3:50.72.

SIMON FRASER

The Clan managed to qualify two athletes for the 2014 NCAA Div 2 national championship meet, which took place this weekend in Allendale, Mich.

Coming out of the heats, Chilliwack native Sarah Sawatzky, in the final race of her SFU career, narrowly missed qualifying for a spot in the 800-metre final.

“Sarah’s always been a great competitor and has helped us win numerous titles,” said Clan head coach Brit Townsend. “I know if she had reached the finals should would have been an All-American.”

As well, Abbotsford native Oliver Jorgensen failed to qualify for the finals of the 3,000-metre steeplechase after injuring himself trying to clear a hurdle in the heats. However, Jorgensen grabbed a piece of history, becoming the first male from a non-U.S. institution to ever compete in an NCAA national track and field championship meet.

GOLF

UBC finished seventh at the NAIA national championships, its lowest finish over the past five seasons, a span which includes two national titles, a runner-up campaign, and sixth place. ‘Birds rookie Winnie Hyun led the blue and gold, finishing in a tie for 13th overall. Oklahoma City won the title for the second straight season.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/05/25/uni-notes-may-25-14-bronzed-birds-ladies-fashion-best-ever-finish-at-naia-track-nationals/feed/1UBC third place[1]howardtsumuraWith a new stride, Vancouver’s Liz Gleadle tops Olympic form, sets new national javelin recordhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/05/10/with-a-new-stride-vancouvers-liz-gleadle-tops-olympic-form-sets-new-national-javelin-record/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/05/10/with-a-new-stride-vancouvers-liz-gleadle-tops-olympic-form-sets-new-national-javelin-record/#commentsSun, 11 May 2014 02:48:03 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=152264After spending the past 13 months retraining in the precise movements of her sport, Vancouver’s Liz Gleadle is sitting even further atop the national record books in women’s javelin.

The former UBC Thunderbirds great and 2006 member of The Province’s …

]]>After spending the past 13 months retraining in the precise movements of her sport, Vancouver’s Liz Gleadle is sitting even further atop the national record books in women’s javelin.

The former UBC Thunderbirds great and 2006 member of The Province’s Head of the Class broke her own Canadian record by over a full metre on her first measured throw of a meet held Saturday in Calgary, uncorking what is now a new national standard of 62.23 metres.

Gleadle broke her own previous best of 61.15 metres set in June of 2012 at the Harry Jerome Classic, just prior to representing her country at the 2012 London Olympics.

The turnaround has come following rehabilitation from back injury, during which time Gleadle discovered that her problems were not coming from the region of her hips, but rather from her ribcage. She had only resumed throwing in February.

“I basically had to re-learn how to walk, do squat lifts, do tricep extensions,” a happy Gleadle said over the phone from Calgary following the meet. “My body works differently now. Everything is working properly for the first time in my life. Now I know that there is just so much there.”

Gleadle burst onto the throwing scene as an 11th grader in 2005 as a member of the Kitsilano Blue Demons, setting a new B.C. high school championship meet record with a throw of 49.46 metres, a throw which topped the previous best by over two metres and came in just her second season competing in the sport.

“We are just extremely happy that the Achilles Cup is staying at UBC for a second straight year,” said jubilant Birds head coach Marek Jedrzejek. “Our women did a great job, but it still went right down to the end.”

The ‘Birds women won every race on the Dhillon oval. Spear Chief-Morris won the 100- (11.79 seconds) and 200-metre (24.40) races, Devan Wiebe the 400 (56.87), Tamara Harris the 800 (2:10.62), Rhiannon Evans the 1,500 (4:33.9) and Jackie Regan the 5,000 (17:23.95). Harris was a pleasant surprise in the 800, edging out SFU’s NCAA Div. 2 national championship qualifier Sarah Sawatzky who finished second at 2:10.73. UBC also won the 400 and 1,600-metre relays.

“It was a good opportunity to create some rivalry between the university but to be honest we were missing some key people,” admitted SFU head coach Brit Townsend, whose school still leads in the overall Achilles series 6-5-1. “We came out on the wrong side, but next year we will be on the other side.”

The Clan got top performances from its men’s team.

Joel Webster won the 200 metres (21.91), Daniel Kelloway (49.80) and Stuart Ellenwood (50.66) were 1-2 in the 400 and the 4×400 metre relay team of Cameron Proceviat, Christopher More O’Ferrall, Kelloway and Ellenwood also took first place (3:19.15).

UBC’s middle distance star Luc Bruchet ran the final home meet of his collegiate career and won the 1,500 metres (3:53.90), while teammate Justin Kent won the 800 metres (1:53.32).

GOLF

Simon Fraser men’s team is enjoying some time in the spotlight for the first time since its revival five seasons ago as an NCAA Div. 2 entity.

On Friday, the Clan program coached by John Buchanan learned that it would play into May, earning a spot in the NCAA West Regional championships as the No. 5 seed.

Its selection comes on the heels of a pair Great Northwest Athletic Conference honours. Senior Mike Belle was named the GNAC Player of the Year after posting a conference-best scoring average of 74.0 strokes per round during the season. As well, first-year sensation Kevin Vigna, the individual winner at the GNAC championship tournament, was picked the conference’s Freshman of the Year. Both Belle and Vigna are graduates of Burnaby’s St. Thomas More Collegiate.

The NCAA West Regionals run May 5-7 in Austin, Texas.

SOFTBALL

Simon Fraser’s toughest season in recent memory, one hindered by key injuries, is set to close out Sunday (1 p.m.) in Monmouth, Ore., as the Clan face Western Oregon in a GNAC regular season-finale doubleheader. On Saturday in Lacey, Wash., SFU’s conference-worst record fell to 2-19 following 8-0 and 6-3 losses to host St. Martin’s (14-8).

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/26/uni-notes-04-26-14-ubc-track-women-power-birds-past-clan-in-tight-achilles-cup-dual/feed/0UBC TrackhowardtsumuraTouche! UBC’s Luc Bruchet puts injuries behind him, sets tempo for dream track seasonhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/24/touche-ubcs-luc-bruchet-puts-injuries-behind-him-sets-tempo-for-dream-track-season/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/24/touche-ubcs-luc-bruchet-puts-injuries-behind-him-sets-tempo-for-dream-track-season/#commentsThu, 24 Apr 2014 22:17:04 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=150897VANCOUVER — A couple of years ago, if you wanted to run a mile in Luc Bruchet’s shoes, you could have just asked him.

“Go ahead,” he’d have said. “I’m not using them.”

Stress fractures in both shins kept appearing …

]]>VANCOUVER — A couple of years ago, if you wanted to run a mile in Luc Bruchet’s shoes, you could have just asked him.

“Go ahead,” he’d have said. “I’m not using them.”

Stress fractures in both shins kept appearing with ill-timed regularity, reducing a stride he knew could be world class, to nothing more than a frustrating walk.

But ask to borrow those shoes this Saturday, and the Surrey native will politely decline. He needs them now, and that’s because on the road to the final home meet of a most remarkable collegiate career, his penchant for heavy mileage and his recent gift of extended health have finally intersected.

On Saturday, Bruchet laces up his spikes for the final time in blue-and-gold, running in both the 800- and 1,500-metres, as the Thunderbirds play host to the Simon Fraser Clan in their annual crosstown Achilles Cup Duals clash (4:30-7 p.m.) at the Rashpal Dhillon Oval.

“It’s been a cumulative thing for me over the last two years,” admits Bruchet, who was forced to sit out the 2012 outdoor track season with a fractured shin, but came back in 2013 to win the NAIA national title at 1,500 metres, and this past fall, topped the entire field to claim the Canadian senior national cross-country title at Jericho Beach. “I wouldn’t say I have been lucky. I would say that I learned how to train and stay healthy and it all accumulated. In the fall (at cross country nationals) it all came together. I was fit and I took that confidence going into the indoor season.”

And he’s kept the ball rolling right into the outdoor season.

The stops and starts of his first few seasons on the Point Grey campus have been replaced in 2013-14 by a stunning level of consistency at distances spanning the entire canon of middle distance.

Following his senior national cross-country title, Bruchet proceeded to post personal-best times at four distances, highlighted indoors by a landmark performance in Seattle on Feb. 1 at the University of Washington Invitational.

On that day, Bruchet ran the first sub-four-minute indoor mile in UBC history, clocking a 3:57.71 en route to a first-place finish in a race that included some of the top milers in the U.S.

“That’s faster than Roger Bannister (3:58.80) ran at the Commonwealth Games,” smiled Marek Jedrzejek, head coach of UBC’s track and field, and cross country programs, referencing the historic Miracle Mile staged in Vancouver six decades ago, in August of 1954. “He is such a talented athlete but it took him a while to develop through all of the injuries. Now he is showing that he has the potential to be a future guy who can make the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.”

Added Bruchet: “It was cool. Going in, I wanted to break four. But when the gun goes off and the juices take over, you just want to win the race. Winning it and breaking four minutes on the 60th anniversary was extremely cool.”

The sub-four mile is a highlight on its own, but Bruchet has done so much more.

Two weeks earlier, he opened the indoor season back in Seattle at the Washington Indoor Preview, setting both meet and UBC records in the 3,000 metres, clocking in at 7:54.57, a time five seconds faster than the previous UBC best set 18 years ago.

Following that race, Bruchet was flown to Boston to compete in the prestigious New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at the same distance and finished at 7:56.33.

That roll has continued into the outdoor season. Bruchet ran a nine-second personal-best 13:45.04 in the 5,000 metres at the Stanford Invitational on April 5. On April 19 he returned to California and at the Mt. SAC Relays turned in the fastest outdoor time by a Canadian this season at 1,500 metres (3:42.02).

That’s four personal bests, two school records and a Canadian senior national cross-country title, all in a span of under five months. And all following an injury-riddled start to his UBC career.

Now, the aspirations are to run professionally, and down the road, take a shot at making the Olympics.

“Through the first two to three years I’d get so disappointed with the injuries,” admits Bruchet, who while injured in 2012 helped out as a statistician for the UBC men’s and women’s hockey teams. “But I had such a great support group and Marek never gave up on me. He believed in what he first saw in me at UBC. Everyone stood by me and that made me a better person.”

THE CLASH AT THE RASH

The UBC Thunderbirds and Simon Fraser Clan have shied away from head-to-head competition in most sports these days, but Saturday’s Achilles Cup Duals at UBC’s Rashpal Dhillon Oval will mark the 12th straight year the two schools have met to determine local collegiate track and field supremacy, making it the longest standing current rivalry between the pair.

SFU heads into the Clash at the Rash with a 6-4 advantage following a draw in the opening year of the event (2003).

UBC won last season’s meet by a 119-111 total, and that victory snapped a string of three straight wins by the Clan (2010-12).

Last week at the San Francisco Invitational, Joel Webster edged out fellow freshman Daniel Kelloway in a one-two finish in the 400 …

]]>BURNABY — The Clan’s speedy pair of 400-metre freshmen are headed to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships.

Last week at the San Francisco Invitational, Joel Webster edged out fellow freshman Daniel Kelloway in a one-two finish in the 400 metres.

On Saturday at the same distance, this time as part of the Clan’s own Emilie Mondor Invitational atop Burnaby Mountain, it was Kelloway finishing first (48.51 seconds) and Webster second (49.02).

“It would of been great to get a bit faster time but what can you do?” said Kelloway, who achieved his GNAC standard a week after his teammate, but is still battling to gain the NCAA championship meet provisional standard. “My personal best is just shy of it (48 seconds), so that’s the goal. I definitely want to improve and hopefully make the NCAA championships as a freshman.”

Other SFU highlights from the meet named in honour of former Clan track athlete Emilie Mondor, who tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2006, included, on the men’s side:

*Cameron Proceviat won the men’s 800 metres, his 1:52.71 just shy of the NCAA provisional qualification time.

*Lorenzo Smith won the 1,500 metres (4:02.10) On the women’s side, a pair of meet records were set. Freshman Ella Brown won the triple jump (11.41 metres), while Clan alum and Olympian Ruky Abdulai won the long jump at 6.71 metres.

Both Clan women’s javelin throwers had season best and GNAC provisional throws with distances with Selina Byer (39.92 metres) and Michelle Stuart (38.71) of the Clan finished one-two in the javelin, each managing season-best efforts.

UBC also entered the meet and both of its 4×800-metre relay teams qualified for the NAIA championships. The women’s team of Devan Wiebe, Tamara Harris, Rhiannon Evans and Catherine Farish clocked a 9:01.47, the fastest in the NAIA this season. The men’s team of Justin Kent, Lukas Jarron, Devin Rajala and Luc Bruchet went 7:43.60, the fourth-fastest in the NAIA this season.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/12/clan-athletes-take-centre-stage-as-sfu-hosts-annual-emilie-mondor-invite-atop-burnaby-mountain/feed/0Selina ByerhowardtsumuraUni notes 04.05.14: Birds’ Bruchet, Bernard sizzle, Yari wields hammer, Clan top Chico Statehttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/05/uni-notes-04-05-14-birds-duo-of-bruchet-and-bernard-sizzle-yari-wields-hammer-clan-top-chico-state/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/05/uni-notes-04-05-14-birds-duo-of-bruchet-and-bernard-sizzle-yari-wields-hammer-clan-top-chico-state/#commentsSun, 06 Apr 2014 02:17:14 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=149104VANCOUVER — UBC’s Maria Bernard is building up a head of steam as she prepares for the NAIA track and field championships next month in Alabama.

On Saturday, as the annual UBC Invitational track and field meet opened under rainy …

]]>VANCOUVER — UBC’s Maria Bernard is building up a head of steam as she prepares for the NAIA track and field championships next month in Alabama.

On Saturday, as the annual UBC Invitational track and field meet opened under rainy skies at the Rashpal Dhillon Oval, Bernard emerged the runaway winner in the women’s 5,000 metres, her time of 16:20.41 almost a full minute ahead of teammate Kirsten Lee (17:23.36).

Last Sunday, at the UBC Open, Bernard entered the 3,000 metre steeplechase for the first time in her collegiate career and won in a time of 10:02.62, making her the sixth-fastest woman in Canadian history in that event.

Bernard, Lee and teammate Amelie de Fenoyl (17:30.89) who finished fifth Saturday, all made the A standard for the NAIA nationals.

UBC’s Catherine Farish won the 800 metres in 2:13.25, and Micha Gutmanis won the steeplechase at 11:20.10, both reaching A standards with their victories.

On Friday evening at the Stanford Invitational, UBC’s Luc Bruchet bettered his own personal best by a full nine seconds en route to a third-place finish in the men’s 5,000 metres. Bruchet, competing against a field of top NCAA Div. 1 and professionals, finished third in a time of 13:43.05. Only five Canadians have covered the distance quicker outdoors since 2010. “I responded relatively well when the pace started to quicken, but didn’t have that final gear in my last lap,” said the Surrey native. “With that said, it’s a good starting point and there’s definitely more in the tank.”

Simon Fraser had five of its athletes earn automatic spots to the upcoming Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships based on their performances at two meets in California.

At San Francisco State, Cameron Proceviat won his heat in the men’s 1,500 metres in a time of 3:52.06, while in the women’s 800 metres, Sarah Sawatzky set a new meet record in the heats, finishing in a time of 2:11.57. Oliver Jorgensen finished seventh in the men’s 5,000 metres (14:34.94). Joel Webster gained automatic berths in two events following a pair of second-place finishes. Webster clocked 48.05 in the 400 metres and 21.74 in the 200 metres.

At the Stanford Invitational, Daniel Kelloway placed fifth in his heat of the men’s 400 metres in a time of 48.91.

BASEBALL

Bruce Yari hit a three-run homer as part of a five-run 10th inning, allowing the UBC Thunderbirds (14-4) to escape with an 10-6 win and a doubleheader split with the host College of Idaho Coyotes (11-7) on Saturday in Caldwell.

UBC starting pitcher Conor Lillis-White struck out the first six batters he faced and later left the game after six innings with a 4-1 lead but the Coyotes came back to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth. The Thunderbirds dropped the opener 10-5. The ‘Birds and Yotes — each among the top three teams in the NAIA West — play another double header Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.

SOFTBALL

Rachel Proctor’s two-run double to right drove in a pair of runs as part of a pivotal three-run fourth inning as the Simon Fraser Clan topped Chico State 9-6 to complete two days of pool play at the Cal State-Stanislaus Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Ca.

Proctor, who went 3-for-4 on the day with two runs and four RBI, plated Robyn Mogavero and Kaitlyn Cameron with her blast, then scored on an single to left by teammate Alexis Johnston.

The victory gave the Clan a 2-3 record in pool play ahead of Sunday’s placing games.

At the Tournament of Champions, a 24-team event which included the Clan’s six other GNAC rivals, SFU started off Friday with a 5-2 loss against NCAA Div. 2’s No. 9-ranked Humboldt State, were trounced 8-0 by host Stanislaus, but rebounded with a walk-off 2-1 win over Cal State East Bay. Saturday opened with 4-2 loss to Azusa Pacific.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/05/uni-notes-04-05-14-birds-duo-of-bruchet-and-bernard-sizzle-yari-wields-hammer-clan-top-chico-state/feed/0UBC Maria 5,000howardtsumuraTrinity Western makes tracks for the top, start-up Spartans put T-F, XC programs in title territoryhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/02/trinity-western-makes-tracks-for-the-top-start-up-spartans-put-t-f-xc-programs-in-title-territory/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/04/02/trinity-western-makes-tracks-for-the-top-start-up-spartans-put-t-f-xc-programs-in-title-territory/#commentsWed, 02 Apr 2014 23:48:10 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=148835LANGLEY — The Trinity Western Spartans aren’t trying to reinvent the old adage of learning to walk before you start to run.

Yet based on the speed in which the Langley-based university has come barreling out of the gates to …

]]>LANGLEY — The Trinity Western Spartans aren’t trying to reinvent the old adage of learning to walk before you start to run.

Yet based on the speed in which the Langley-based university has come barreling out of the gates to find success on the ovals, the trails and the jumping pits, you’d be excused for wondering just how both its track and field, and cross-country teams have found such quick success despite their relative infancy.

“We still haven’t graduated anyone who started with this program,” enthuses head coach Laurier Primeau, now in his third year at the helm of a program which has only been in existence four years. “That’s how young we are. My personal goal when I came here was to work backward on a five-year plan to bring a national championship to the school.”

That hasn’t happened yet, but true to form, the Spartans have kept pace with that plan, announcing themselves as contenders not only within the Canada West conference, but on the national stage as well.

Led by a fantastic foursome, the Trinity Western women’s team set school, conference and national records en route to a third-place finish last month at the CIS indoor track and field championships in Edmonton. The CIS does not compete in an outdoor season.

Long jumper Sabrina Nettey, a former member of The Province’s Head of the Class, won the long jump at 6.16 metres.

And on the track, Sarah Inglis won the 1,500 metres (4:22.15), and Fiona Benson the 1,000 metres (2:50.97).

That bronze at nationals, and its first-place finish at the Canada West championships in late February, were both school bests. Ditto for the men’s team which finished tied for second at the conference finals, and placed a school-best 11th at nationals.

The rise to prominence of the women’s team has been startling, from 14th in 2012, to sixth in 2013, and now to a bronze medal with virtually its entire team returning.

And leave it to Primeau to shed a most unique perspective on the quality of performances turned in by his ladies, especially in the high jump and long jump.

“If you take just our results in those two events, we would have finished tied for 14th with Penn State at the NCAA’s,” said Primeau of the U.S. collegiate giant’s Div. 1 championship meet held in Albuquerque, NM.

Start with Nuttall’s high jump performance.

If the Scottish native had made the same 1.88-metre jump at the NCAA’s, she would have won gold, besting the 1.87 metres cleared by Georgia’s Leonita Kallenou, and scoring 10 points for her team.

Additionally, while Surrey’s Nettey won gold at the CIS meet in long jump at 6.16 metres, she did so while taking just two jumps, preserving herself for the many other events she was entered in at the meet. Two weeks before at the Canada West finals, she won gold at 6.32, a distance which would have given her fourth at NCAAs, and scored her team five points.

“I think that was a very repeatable performance for Sabrina,” said Primeau of the former Stanford athlete. “But at nationals, she was simply jumping to win.”

Those 15 points would have added up to 14th place.

“The big difference is that there are 18-to-20 schools in the CIS who score points (at national championships) and at NCAAs there were 58. (In the NCAA), the quality is spread among a greater amount of institutions, so it takes a fewer amount of points to be successful.”

Of course such projections can’t be made in a vacuum, and Primeau, a former NCAA Div. 1 track athlete himself, is well aware of that.

“But our point is that while we respect the excellent programs in the NCAA, I think our program is making the CIS a viable track and field option, in a lot of the same ways the Carleton Ravens are in men’s basketball, the way they are so competitive with elite NCAA programs.”

Indeed, the CIS national champion Ravens beat Wisconsin 95-82 last August in Ottawa, and the Badgers open play Saturday in the Final Four against Kentucky.

It also doesn’t take too much math to realize that Scottish native Inglis’ 4:22.15 in the 1,500 metres would likely have scored points in the NCAA’s one-mile final.

Inglis ran unopposed over the final two laps at CIS nationals over a distance 109 metres shy of a mile.

“I think it is safe to say that she would have finished the last 109 metres in less than 18 seconds,” Primeau said, eluding to a 4:40 finish which would have been good for a spot in the top eight at NCAAs and at least an additional point.

And Trinity’s success began even earlier this season.

Back in November, led by first-team all-Canadian Alison Jackson, the TWU women finished fourth at the CIS cross country nationals. Conference awards are based on finish at the nationals, and thus the Spartans won their first-ever Canada West title banner, and Jackson was crowned the conference champion.

The Trinity Western men finished a program-best seventh at nationals, and were second among Canada West schools.

Sensing the potential to perhaps gain a standard which might allow her to represent Canada at the …

]]>VANCOUVER — Maria Bernard may have discovered a new specialty event on the track, and it came Sunday amidst some very strange circumstances.

Sensing the potential to perhaps gain a standard which might allow her to represent Canada at the upcoming NACAC (North American, Central American, Caribbean) Under-23 track and field championships this coming August in Kamloops, the Calgary native and UBC middle distance runner approached head coach Marek Jedrzejek prior to Sunday’s UBC Open and asked if she could enter the meet’s 3,000-metres steeplechase.

Strangely enough, she had never run the event before as a collegian and she was the race’s only entrant on the Rashpal Dhillon oval.

Nonetheless, she won in a time of 10:02.62, making her the sixth-fastest woman in Canadian history in the event, and putting herself in the running to grab a spot at the NACACs.

Although NAIA records are not kept for individual meets, it obliterates the fastest time ever run in the event at the NAIA championships (10:12.31).

“My general strategy was just to get into a good rhythm and try to keep it over the steeples,” Bernard said after the race. “As I was running, I was mostly just focusing on the next barrier, trying to stay relaxed and not over think anything too much. I couldn’t always hear exactly what my splits were, but I could hear someone saying they were steady so I just decided to go with it. I remember thinking it was a lot more enjoyable than I expected it would be.”

But the sixth fastest woman in Canadian history in her first crack at the discipline since high school?

“I am still a bit shocked about it to be honest,” she said. “Surprised but happy. From practicing over the past few weeks I have definitely come to really appreciate and respect the technical side of steeplechase. Those that have mastered it are really incredible. I know I have lots to learn but I am happy to have had the start I had today.”

A number of UBC athletes also qualified for the NAIA nationals by virtue of their Sunday performances.

On the women’s side, they included Devan Wiebe (2:11.25) and Tamara Harris (2:12.75) who finished one-two in the 800 metres, as well as the ‘Birds trio of Catherine Farish (4:34.28), Rhiannon Evans (4:34.84) and Kirsten Lee (4:36.44) who took the top three spots in the 1,500 metres.

On the men’s side, UBC’s Justin Kent (3:52.93) and Jack Williams (3:53.43) were the top two finishers in the 1,500 metres and earned berths to nationals, along with teammate Andy White who went 64.42 metres to finish second in javelin.

As well, UBC’s Jesse Hooton, a second-place finisher in the men’s 10,000 metres, made the standard for the World Junior championships after finishing in a time of 31:24.92. Hooton will have to finish in the top two at the nationals to make the Canadian team.

BASEBALL

The UBC Thunderbirds may have dropped the opening game of a four-game weekend set Friday to California’s visiting Menlo College, but they finished strong with three straight wins against the visiting Oaks, including a 6-3 victory Sunday at Thunderbird Park.

The wins pushed UBC’s conference record to a sterling 13-3 and a share of first place in the NAIA West standings with perennial powerhouse Lewis-Clark State.

In Sunday’s win, starter Bryan Pawlina went six strong innings, walking just one and fanning five to get the victory, while Jerod Bartnik, Tyler Enns and Bryan Arthur each went 2-for-4 at the plate. UBC swept Saturday’s double header by scores of 5-0 and 11-1. In Saturday’s opener, ‘Birds hurler Conor Lillis-White (5-0) extended his scoreless innings streak to 19 by pitching the program’s first nine-inning complete game of the campaign. His five-hitter included eight strikeouts and just one walk.

UBC (22-6 overall), had won 13 straight before Friday’s 8-4 loss. It plays a pair of double-headers this coming Saturday and Sunday at College of Idaho.

SOFTBALL

Simon Fraser’s tough season continued Sunday as the Clan dropped its 11th game in 13 Great Northwest Athletic Conference starts, falling 14-7 to the visiting Western Washington Vikings in the first game of a double header atop Burnaby Mountain

Mired in last place in the GNAC standings, the SFU committed six errors and surrendered 22 hits to WWU to fall to 2-11 on the season and have its two-game win streak snapped.

While it was a tough afternoon for the Clan, SFU did have some success at the top of the order. Robyn Mogavero and Kendra Goodman went a combined 5-for-9. Clan catcher Kaitlyn Cameron had two hits and drove on five runs.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/03/30/uni-notes-04-30-14-ubcs-bernard-ditches-steeple-learning-curve-base-birds-roll-clan-softball-in-tough/feed/0Maria BernardhowardtsumuraUBC’s Bruchet runs with the best, bid for world standard falls shy at Boston Grand Prix meethttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02/08/ubcs-bruchet-runs-with-the-best-bid-for-world-standard-falls-shy-at-boston-grand-prix-meet/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02/08/ubcs-bruchet-runs-with-the-best-bid-for-world-standard-falls-shy-at-boston-grand-prix-meet/#commentsSun, 09 Feb 2014 07:19:12 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=143882UBC’s Luc Bruchet got a chance to test his mettle against the best middle-distance runners on the planet Saturday at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meet in Boston, competing as part of an elite 14-man field in the 3,000 …]]>UBC’s Luc Bruchet got a chance to test his mettle against the best middle-distance runners on the planet Saturday at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meet in Boston, competing as part of an elite 14-man field in the 3,000 metres.

Hoping to hit the world indoor standard of 7:50.00, and coming off a UBC-record 7:54.77 in mid-Janaury at the UW Indoor Preview in Seattle, Surrey-native Bruchet clocked a 7:56.33. Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet won the race in 7:34.13, the fastest time in the world over that distance this season. Courtenay’s Cam Levins was the top-finishing Canadian, narrowly missing the national record (7:40.17) with a 7:41.59 despite losing a shoe with 1,000 metres remaining.

The IAAF World Championships are set for March 7-9 in Poland.

“It’s unfortunate that I didn’t come away with the world indoor standard, but the race itself was eye-opening experience,” Bruchet told UBC athletics after the race. “Never have I gone out that fast.”

While his mission was not accomplished, the Elgin Park grad took the time to appreciate his surroundings.

“It was pretty cool coming into a packed house of cheering fans and at the same time lining up with some of the best athletes in the world,” said Bruchet. “The highlight of the trip was just being surrounded by world class athletes, including Olympians and a number of World championship competitors. My biggest aspiration is to one day be like those guys, competing at the front of some of these world-class races.”

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02/08/ubcs-bruchet-runs-with-the-best-bid-for-world-standard-falls-shy-at-boston-grand-prix-meet/feed/0Bruchet in Bostonhowardtsumura02.02.14 Uni notes: UBC’s Luc Bruchet sizzles in U-Dub mile, plus volleyball, men’s hockeyhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02/02/02-02-14-uni-notes-ubcs-luc-bruchet-sizzles-in-u-dub-mile-plus-volleyball-mens-hockey/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02/02/02-02-14-uni-notes-ubcs-luc-bruchet-sizzles-in-u-dub-mile-plus-volleyball-mens-hockey/#commentsSun, 02 Feb 2014 22:43:09 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=143178We’ve brought you women’s hockey, as well as the full picture in basketball. Capping off our extensive weekend of university sports coverage is the rest of the big news, from track and field, men’s hockey and men’s and women’s volleyball.…]]>We’ve brought you women’s hockey, as well as the full picture in basketball. Capping off our extensive weekend of university sports coverage is the rest of the big news, from track and field, men’s hockey and men’s and women’s volleyball.

TRACK AND FIELD

UBC’s Luc Bruchet is sizzling.

Bruchet clocked a 3:57.71 Saturday to win the invitational one-mile race at the University of Washington Invitational in Seattle. The deep and talented field included U.S. steeplechase record holder Evan Jager and U.S. mile record holder Alan Webb.

The time for Bruchet, next off to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 3,000-metres next weekend in Boston, was a personal best, and the swiftest time run by a Canadian this season.

MEN’S HOCKEY

Wild West Canada West hockey did the trick for the UBC Thunderbirds in Calgary.

The Birds (9-13-2) took three of a possible four points this past weekend from the host Mount Royal Cougars (10-12-2), bouncing back from a 5-4 overtime loss Friday, with a 6-5 overtime win Saturday over the Cougars behind a hat trick from sniper Cole Wilson who now sits third in conference scoring with 30 points, including 16 goals.

UBC remains two points out of the final playoff spot with four more games remaining, including this coming weekend’s two-game set with the Saskatchewan Huskies, fresh off their weekend sweep of No. 1 Calgary.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

B.C.’s three nationally-ranked men’s volleyball teams all stumbled on Friday night, but by Saturday evening had all accomplished key goals on the road to their Canada West post-season fortunes.

No. 1-ranked Trinity Western bounced back from its startling 3-0 sweep at the hands of host Brandon on Friday, topping the Bobcats 3-2 (18-25, 25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 15-13) the next day, a victory which not only clinched first place in the conference with two more matches remaining, but assured the Spartans the opportunity to host the Canada West Final Four.

“It was a great match and the best match we’ve played in all year,” TWU head coach Ben Josephson told twu.ca. “It was the best opponent we’ve played and it was in a hostile environment. They’re desperate to make the playoffs and we were desperate to clinch first.”

Nick Del Bianco led four Spartans in double-figure kills on the evening with 18. Ryan Sclater added 16 and Brad Kufske 13, the trio all former honourees of The Province’s Head of the Class.

While the Spartans (18-2) sewed up first and themselves a conference semifinal win away from a return trip to the CIS nationals, the No. 4-ranked UBC Thunderbirds were also discovering the positives that came from a bounce-back win.

“I think a lot of it has to do with how you prepare to play,” UBC head coach Richard Schick told gothunderbirds.ca on Saturday. “They can play volleyball. We can play volleyball. Whoever prepares and readies themselves to play, and play better, will come out on top. They came focused yesterday and we didn’t push back. Tonight, we were prepared.”

Alex Russell’s team-high 13 kills were key for the winners, as were the dozen kills provided by both Ben Chow and Chris Howe.

And while TWU and UBC were keeping the home-hardwood fires burning, Kamloops’ No. 5-ranked Thompson Rivers WolfPack (12-8) were busy going five sets (25-13,22-25,21-25,29-27,17-15) on the road in Regina, turning back the host Cougars to earn a weekend split and clinch a playoff berth, ending a two-season dry spell from the post season.

“I am really proud of the guys,” TRU head coach Pat Hennelly told WolfPack athletics after the win. “At this time of year to have our record, we have to be happy. I told them before this match that we can’t panic. We have earned this playoff berth.”

Senior outside hitter Casey Knight led the winners with 22 kills.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

A weekend sweep of Saskatchewan Huskies has the six-time defending CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds in some very familiar territory with two more matches remaining in its Canada West regular season.

Lisa Barclay registered a game-high 11 kills and added eight digs while teammate Rosie Schlagintweit and Abby Keeping combined for a further 13 kills as the Birds beat the Huskies 3-0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-17) at War Gym.

With the victory, 18-2 UBC clinched first place in the Canada West and the right to host the conference Final Four championships.

No. 3-ranked Trinity Western saw its hopes of potentially overtaking the Birds ended following a weekend split against the host, No. 2-ranked Brandon Bobcats.

After winning in five sets Friday, TWU were doused 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-11) Saturday, its conference-high 10-match win streak also coming to an end.

The match saw Trinity Western hit for a negative team efficiency in Canada West conference play for the first time since a 3-0 loss to UBC on Feb. 7, 2004.

Nonetheless, TWU will host a conference quarterfinal best-of-three quarterfinal in two weekend’s time.

The UBC Okanagan Heat (12-8) have also qualified for the post season, and depending on its finish this coming weekend in its regular-season finale double header against Regina, could also climb into a top-four spot in the standings and earn the right to host an opening-round playoff series.

“I’m very proud with how our team responded tonight,” Heat head coach Steve Manuel told Heat athletics after the victory. “We’ve had a hard time finding our stride these past few weeks, so it’s great to see us playing well again. We’ve played such a tough schedule over the past three weeks.”

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02/02/02-02-14-uni-notes-ubcs-luc-bruchet-sizzles-in-u-dub-mile-plus-volleyball-mens-hockey/feed/0Bruchet 1howardtsumuraUNI notes 5.25.13: Crofts caps golden career with Clan, UBC’s Bruchet wins NAIA 1,500 metreshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/05/25/uni-notes-5-25-13-crofts-caps-golden-career-with-clan-ubcs-bruchet-wins-naia-1500-metres/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/05/25/uni-notes-5-25-13-crofts-caps-golden-career-with-clan-ubcs-bruchet-wins-naia-1500-metres/#commentsSun, 26 May 2013 03:29:11 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=118705Helen Crofts finished her collegiate running career on a real high Saturday, and that had nothing to do with the fact that the NCAA Div. 2 track and field championships were being staged in the high desert altitude of Pueblo, …]]>Helen Crofts finished her collegiate running career on a real high Saturday, and that had nothing to do with the fact that the NCAA Div. 2 track and field championships were being staged in the high desert altitude of Pueblo, in southern Colorado.

With a national indoor championship at 800 metres already in her figurative back pocket, the plucky senior from North Vancouver completed a double-gold season by battling the thin air at Colorado State-Pueblo to win her specialty distance outdoors as well.

“I had never run at altitude before and it was tougher than anticipated,” said Crofts, who had abandoned thoughts of chasing the national meet record in favour of just winning the race. “I could tell that just coming here and running the heats that (the national record of ) 2:02 wasn’t going to be in the cards. My goal was just to make sure I ran a smart race and hopefully finish on top.”
That is precisely what she did, leading wire to wire while two of her teammates also fashioned top six finishes.

Crofts won the race in 2:08.18, while teammates Lindsey Butterworth (2:10.03) and Sarah Sawatzky (2:10.87) were fourth and sixth respectively. Mikaela Kane, the fourth Clan runner to qualify for the race, was eliminated following Friday’s heats.
“It is going to be hard to see her leave,” said SFU head coach Britt Townsend of Croft, who has been invited to compete for Canada at the World University (FISU) Games this summer. “She has been such a phenomenal athlete, so confident and positive, that all weekend long she has been inspiring all of our girls.”

Also of note was the performance of SFU’s conference champion discus standout Jade Richardson, who finished ninth in her event with a throw of 45.26 metres.

While the Clan team, dominant over its years in the NAIA with multiple national titles to its credit, is still struggling to find enough depth to contend for medals nationally in more events, Townsend can’t help but think that Crofts’ run, on the heels of Olympian Jessica Smith’s run, can only help keep more quality B.C. athletes in the province.

Like Crofts, another of those top former high school athletes who stayed home to compete, had an excellent day at the NAIA national track and field championships in Marion, Indiana.

Surrey’s Luc Bruchet won the gold medal in the 1,500 metres for the ‘Birds, finishing at 3:50.46. Bruchet doubled up, and within a span of three hours, also took part in the 5,000 metres where he finished fifth (14:26.00).

“I’m really happy with how the 1,500 went, and I would have liked a medal in the 5,000 but I’m happy to come away with two All-American honours,” the Elgin Park Secondary grad explained. said Bruchet. “I didn’t know what to expect running the two races but I think it went well with how I did it.”

Jack Williams of Surrey’s Semiahmoo Secondary, helped UBC to a tie for ninth place in the men’s standings with a sixth-place in the 1,500 metres (3:52.84).

The UBC women finished third in the team standings, its highest since joining the NAIA in 1998-99.

While no gold was struck, there was plenty of silver and bronze to be had.

Sarah Reimer (2:58.10.60) and Kaylee Beales (2:59.26.50) finished one-two in the marathon. Maria Bernard was second in the 1,500 metres (4:27.93) for the second straight year; Amelie de Fenoyl was second with a personal best in the 5,000 (17:09.26); Devan Wiebe was third in the 800 metres (2:09.48).

On Friday, UBC’s 4×800-metre relay team of Heather Slinn, Tamara Harris. Wiebe and Bernard, won gold in a time of 8:58.32, more than three seconds ahead of second-place Oklahoma Baptist.

GOLF
On Friday, at the NAIA national championships in Lincoln, Neb., the UBC Thunderbirds failed in their bid to repeat as winners. The Birds wound up finishing second, 12 shots behind eventual champion Oklahoma City University Stars. UBC which has won national titles in 2001, 04, 10 and 12, finished second to the Stars for the third time.

Haley Cameron led the ‘Birds, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth, carding an 18-over 306 over four rounds. Oklahoma City had the top two finishers, led by individual champion Jessica Schiele, who finished at seven-over 295.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/05/25/uni-notes-5-25-13-crofts-caps-golden-career-with-clan-ubcs-bruchet-wins-naia-1500-metres/feed/0Crofts leads at GNAC ChampionshiphowardtsumuraCrofts, Richardson strike gold for Clan at GNAC track and field finalshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/05/12/crofts-richardson-strike-gold-for-clan-at-gnac-track-and-field-finals/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/05/12/crofts-richardson-strike-gold-for-clan-at-gnac-track-and-field-finals/#commentsSun, 12 May 2013 16:28:07 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=117575Helen Crofts and Jade Richardson forged golden moments over the weekend for the Simon Fraser Clan, as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference track and field championships wrapped up Saturday afternoon on Monmouth, Oregon.Crofts won double gold Saturday, the North …]]>Helen Crofts and Jade Richardson forged golden moments over the weekend for the Simon Fraser Clan, as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference track and field championships wrapped up Saturday afternoon on Monmouth, Oregon.Crofts won double gold Saturday, the North Vancouver native not only breaking her conference record in the 400 metres, but also winning the 1,500 metres, just ahead of silver-medal finishing teammate and fellow North Shore native Lindsey Butterworth.Crofts’ 54.51 seconds performance in the 400 topped her 2011 GNAC record time of 55.25. In thr 1,500 metres, she finished first at 4:26.85, with Butterworth second at 4:27.22.In the 800 metres, the Clan came close to another gold, with Sarah Sawatzky taking second at 2:10.41, just behind McKayla Fricker of Seattle Pacific who won in 2:10.24.Meanwhile, the Nanaimo native Richardson continued her dominant season in discus, winning her specialty event with a throw of 43.01 metres.The Clan women finished sixth in the nine-school competition with 73 points, well shy of first-place Alaska Anchorage, which totalled 169.On the men’s side, the Clan fashioned a seventh-place finish, well off the pace of winner Western Washington. SFU’s top moment came in the 1,500 metres where Travis Vugteveen took third in a three-way battle, clocking a time of 3:56.99. Seth Pierson of Seattle Pacific was first at 3:56.30. The Clan’s James Young was fifth at 3:58.77.Here’s a complete look at the results from competition Friday and Saturday:2013 GNAC Track and Field Champions (May 10-11 at Monmouth)

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/05/12/crofts-richardson-strike-gold-for-clan-at-gnac-track-and-field-finals/feed/0JadehowardtsumuraBroken foot to NCAA national champ, it’s all coming around again for Clan senior Croftshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/11/broken-foot-to-ncaa-national-champ-its-all-coming-around-again-for-clan-senior-crofts/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/11/broken-foot-to-ncaa-national-champ-its-all-coming-around-again-for-clan-senior-crofts/#commentsFri, 12 Apr 2013 04:06:55 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=114732BURNABY — When Helen Crofts takes her place at the starting line of the 800 metres in just over a week’s time at the Mt. SAC Relays in California, she will be staring down the demands of her two-lap specialty …]]>BURNABY — When Helen Crofts takes her place at the starting line of the 800 metres in just over a week’s time at the Mt. SAC Relays in California, she will be staring down the demands of her two-lap specialty safe in the knowledge that the past 52 weeks have indeed allowed her to come full circle.

It was at that very meet, and in that very race last season when Simon Fraser’s world-class middle distance runner noticed a pain in her right foot which was later diagnosed as a stress fracture, an injury which would not only wipe out her entire outdoor season, but perhaps most cruelly, keep her on the sidelines as spring turned to summer and trials for the Canadian Olympic team went on without her.

A stress fracture? Yes. But stress over her fracture? No.

“What really impressed me the most,” Simon Fraser head coach Brit Townsend says, “was her attitude. She didn’t fall apart. She wasn’t angry. She was going to get through this and to her it became a challenge. She was just going to stay positive.”

So while her close friend and longtime Clan training partner Jessica Smith, a year Crofts’ senior, went on to earn a spot on the Canadian team headed to the London Olympics, the former West Vancouver Secondary grad just stayed within herself.

Long bike rides, endless laps in the SFU pool. And when the chance came to return to the track in the fall for the start of the indoor season, Townsend and everyone around the program could sense that Crofts’ overwhelming power of positivity had her on the brink of doing something very special.

In early March, coming off a span in which included five months of non-impact activity, Crofts flew with the rest of her teammates to the NCAA Div. 2 indoor finals at Birmingham, Ala., and promptly won the 800 metres in a time of 2:05.96, not only finishing two-10ths of a second off the national championship meet record, but also becoming the Clan’s first-ever NCAA national track champion.

“My outlook in general is to stay positive about things,” Crofts says. “I always try to find something positive in every situation, and in high-level sports, injury is just a part of things.”

It’s that attitude which is carrying the senior biological sciences major into the swan song of her collegiate track career.Last weekend, as her final outdoor campaign kicked off at home with the Achilles’ dual meet against UBC, she prepped both her power and her endurance by winning at both 400 and 1,500 metres.

On Saturday, when the Clan plays host to its annual Emilie Mondor Invite at Terry Fox Field, Crofts is again likely to skip the 800, this time focusing on her speed by entering the 200- and 400-metre races. And that means her first crack at an outdoor 800 this season will come at Mt. SAC, precisely one year after her injury.

And it’s because she is coming off the first major injury of her career and has yet to run an 800 metres outdoors this season, that Crofts tempers the possibilities of a campaign now just two weeks old. In fact, until she finds her full comfort level, she says isn’t prepared to look at the NCAA Div. 2 championship meet’s record books.

“It’s something I will look to closer to the actual event,” she says of the national meet, slated to run May 23-25 in Pueblo, Colorado. “A lot of it is going to depend on how my season is going, how I am feeling around the time of the (championships). Who knows what the record is. I haven’t looked. Maybe it’s 2:03, or maybe it’s 1:59?”

Interestingly enough, the NCAA Div. 2 national championship meet record is 2:02.48 set in 1990 by Teena Colebrook of Cal Poly.

The last time Crofts ran an 800 metres outdoors at a national championship meet was in 2011 when Simon Fraser was still competing in the NAIA.

That day, Crofts not only won the national title in the 800 metres, but in the process set the championship meet record with a time of 2:02.12, breaking the old mark of 2:03.89 set 25 years previously by none other than Townsend.

So far, her return has been smooth sailing. But Crofts will admits to that some pangs of anxiety were present through her comeback, even as she put on the most positive face possible.

“You’re in practice with your teammates, and at least for me, you’re a little used to being ahead of them,” the humble Crofts manages. “But then all of a sudden I am in the very back of the pack, and I am asking myself how long it’s going to take to get back to where I was before. I had never been injured before, so that was the most challenging part.”

Crofts also packs around a 4.14 GPA as part of her biology major, a number Townsend says puts her at the front of the pack for Clan student-athletes. There is the pull of grad school, but also of various world championships and perhaps even the Olympics.

“But all I know right now,” Crofts says, “is that I will take a year off from school to run, then consider what my options for school are in the future.”

There’s bound to be some stress ahead, but as Crofts has shown, she’s always ready to run her race.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/11/broken-foot-to-ncaa-national-champ-its-all-coming-around-again-for-clan-senior-crofts/feed/0Achilles Bernard, CroftshowardtsumuraUni Notes 4.08.13: ‘Birds top Clan in track showdown, SFU-UBC softball set for clashhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/08/uni-notes-4-08-13-birds-top-clan-in-track-showdown-sfu-ubc-softball-set-for-twin-bill-showdown/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/08/uni-notes-4-08-13-birds-top-clan-in-track-showdown-sfu-ubc-softball-set-for-twin-bill-showdown/#commentsTue, 09 Apr 2013 04:53:36 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=114376BURNABY — Between the two of them, there was hardly a foot race from sprint through middle distance, that teammates Sean McKenzie and Luc Bruchet didn’t have covered on Sunday.
The UBC Thunderbirds’ dynamic duo combined to win every distance …]]>BURNABY — Between the two of them, there was hardly a foot race from sprint through middle distance, that teammates Sean McKenzie and Luc Bruchet didn’t have covered on Sunday.
The UBC Thunderbirds’ dynamic duo combined to win every distance from the 100- through the 1,500 metres in its annual Achilles Cup crosstown clash with the Simon Fraser Clan, ultimately providing the margin of difference the ‘Birds needed to beat the SFU 119-111 in the dual meet staged under wet skies atop Burnaby Mountain.
Simon Fraser’s women’s team, led by standout Helen Crofts, beat the UBC women 59-56. It was the more decisive 63-52 victory by UBC in the men’s competition that earned the Thunderbirds its first Achilles win since 2009. SFU leads the overall series 6-4-1.
“Sean McKenzie made a huge difference winning three events,” said UBC head coach Marek Jedrzejek after the freshman from Nanaimo’s Dover Bay Secondary won the 100 (11.45), 200 (22.7) and 400 (50.33). “Bruchet’s two wins made a huge difference as well.”
The latter powered past SFU’s Travis Vugteveen down the stretch to win the 800 metres (1:54.95), and also won the 1,500 metres (4:01.75).
SFU’s Crofts, coming off an NCAA Div. 2 indoor championship in mid-March at 800 metres, showed her smooth transition to the outdoor season by winning the 400 (55.71) and the 1,500 (4:41.50). Teammate Lindsay Butterworth was second in the 1,500 (4:42.07). Crofts also ran the anchor leg of the Clan’s first-place finishing 4×400-metre relay team.
UBC’s Joy Spear Chief-Morris won the 100- (12.28 seconds) and 200-metres (25.56), and anchored the Birds’ 4×100-metre relay team to first place.
Although not part of the scoring competition between the two schools, a pair of performers from Langley’s Trinity Western put forth top performances. Emma Nuttall won the women’s high jump competition (1.74 metres) while James Linde won the men’s long jump (6.67 metres).SOFTBALL
Simon Fraser defeated Western Washington 4-3 in the semifinals then went unopposed en route to winning the bronze bracket title at the Cal State Stanislaus Tournament of Champions on Sunday in Turlock, Cal.
The Clan were to have played Phoenix-based Grand Canyon State in the finals, but the Antelopes were unable to play due to an NCAA games-limit restriction. Simon Fraser beat its GNAC rivals from WWU with a three-run fourth inning fueled by RBI hits from Rachel Proctor, Trisha Bouchard and Carly Lepoutre.
SFU hosts rival UBC in a non-conference twin bill on Wednesday (4, 6 p.m.) at Beedie Field atop Burnaby Mountain. The Clan currently leads the GNAC standings with an 11-4 record.BASEBALL
Coming off a bye week, the UBC Thunderbirds play five games over the next six days. The Birds begin on the road Tuesday (4 p.m.) at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue, Wash., facing the Seattle University Redhawks.
The Birds (12-4) then get back to Cascade Conference action over the weekend, hosting the Corban University Warriors (8-12) of Salem, Ore., in double headers Saturday (12, 3 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m., 2 p.m.).
The Birds have won six of their past seven games, including 7-4 and 12-1 triumphs in its most recent action over California’s host Simpson University on March 31.]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/04/08/uni-notes-4-08-13-birds-top-clan-in-track-showdown-sfu-ubc-softball-set-for-twin-bill-showdown/feed/0BruchethowardtsumuraUni notes 2.17.13: The skinny from CIS men’s hockey; NCAA track, softball, football; NAIA baseballhttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/02/17/uni-notes-2-17-13-the-skinny-from-cis-mens-hockey-ncaa-track-softball-football-naia-baseball/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/02/17/uni-notes-2-17-13-the-skinny-from-cis-mens-hockey-ncaa-track-softball-football-naia-baseball/#commentsMon, 18 Feb 2013 04:52:08 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=108546The Canada West men’s hockey season is over for the UBC Thunderbirds.
After rallying Saturday with a 4-2 win to tie its best-of-three conference quarterfinal series with host Calgary, the ‘Birds found it near impossible Sunday to direct any pucks …]]>The Canada West men’s hockey season is over for the UBC Thunderbirds.
After rallying Saturday with a 4-2 win to tie its best-of-three conference quarterfinal series with host Calgary, the ‘Birds found it near impossible Sunday to direct any pucks at the Dinos net en route to a 4-1 defeat.
Cole Pruden’s marker midway through the third period made it 3-1, but UBC would finish the game being outshot 29-8 by the hosts. The Thunderbirds managed just one shot on goal in the first period.
UBC had finished fifth in the Canada West standings this season with a 14-11-3 record, the best regular-season campaign in head coach Milan Dragicevic’s 12 seasons behind the bench.
This coming weekend, Calgary plays at Alberta, while Manitoba visits Saskatchewan in the conference’s two semifinal series.TRACK AND FIELD
Helen Crofts was so sick this week, that even when the Simon Fraser Clan’s middle-distance standout was feeling well enough to give it a go at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor track and field championships over the weekend, head coach Brit Townsend could tell that her star was far less than 100 per cent.
“She’s been coughing all week, and even before (Saturday’s 800-metre final) she told me that she wasn’t feeling too well,” a happy Townsend relayed as her team put forth a number of excellent performances at the two-day event held on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. “But she just toughed it out.”
Crofts and the entire Clan women’s contingent enjoyed an excellent meet, its first as an official NCAA member, finishing in a tie with the host school for fourth place. Alaska Anchorage placed first.
After winning the 800 metres (2:12.29), she proceeded to peel off a sizzling 54.3 split as the anchor runner on the Clan’s 4×400-metre relay team, which took gold, breaking its own conference championship meet record with a time of 3:48.36. Sarah Sawatzky (2:13.14) finished second in the 800, with Michaela Kane fourth (2:13.79).
Crofts, Kane, Sawatzky and freshman Chantel Desch made up the 4×400 team. Desch also finished second in the 400 metres (57.23) and fourth in the 200 (25.62).
Inthe 3,000 metres, Kirsten Allen, who had her first-ever try at the distance just one week ago, placed third (10:18.83). Andrea Abrams was third in the 60-metre hurdles (8.88 seconds).
In the mile, Lindsay Butterworth repeated as the GNAC champ, this time in 4:58.09 with teammate Kansas McKenzie fifth (5:06.10). Crofts, Butterworth, Kane and Desch also teammed up Friday to win the distance-medley race in 11:47.86, a full nine seconds ahead of second-place Alaska Anchorage.
In the field, the Clan’s Kim Neville-Rutherford was fourth in the high jump (1.61 metres) and Jade Richardson sixth in the shotput (11.98).SOFTBALL
The SFU Clan took a season-opening 0-5 streak into a six-game tour through Hawaii this past week, but went 4-2 after three productive double headers.
The Clan closed out play Saturday in Honolulu by splitting a pair of games against the Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors, winning 2-1 and losing 7-6 in extra innings. The Clan also split with the Silverswords of Chaminade University on Friday, losing 6-5 but winning 8-0, and swept BYU Hawaii by 9-2 and 8-0 scores on Wednesday.
The Clan, who lost out to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets on the final day of the 2012 regular season in the race for the GNAC pennant, have been picked to finish third in the conference this season behind MSU-Billings and St. Martin’s. Led by reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Year Cara Lukawesky, SFU opens its 24-game regular conference schedule at home with a pair against the Yellowjackets on March 5.BASEBALL
UBC’s boys of summer are already hard at work. The Birds opened an eight-game road swing south of the line Saturday in Anaheim, crushing Bethesda-California 21-7 behind a blistering 20-hit outburst which saw Greg Densem, Mike Hole, Kevin Biro and Austin Fruson all collect three hits apiece.
“After two tough days on the bus to get down here, it was nice to see the offence break out,” explained UBC skipper Terry McKaig, whose team had opened the season 1-3. “It’s apparent the hitters enjoy hitting more in sunny, 80-degree temperatures than back home.”FOOTBALL
The Simon Fraser Clan football program was an offensive dynamo this past season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, so much so that the BCS has come calling on one member of its staff.
Clan offensive coordinator Jason Beck was Friday named the new quarterbacks coach at Brigham Young University.
Beck, who played at BYU from 2004-06, came to SFU following a three-year stint in the Big Sky Conference at Weber State. This past season under Beck, the Clan emerged as the top-ranked scoring offence and the top-ranked passing team in the GNAC as Beck helped quarterback Trey Wheeler pass for 3,268 yards and 28 touchdowns]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/02/17/uni-notes-2-17-13-the-skinny-from-cis-mens-hockey-ncaa-track-softball-football-naia-baseball/feed/1SFU Lindsay ButterworthhowardtsumuraSFU, Trinity impress at UW’s Dempsey Indoor meet, Clan grapplers win national titlehttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/01/27/locals-impress-at-uws-dempsey-indoor-clan-grapplers-win-national-title/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/01/27/locals-impress-at-uws-dempsey-indoor-clan-grapplers-win-national-title/#commentsSun, 27 Jan 2013 21:50:43 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=105751We’re back with more university sports today, this time wrapping up the story in track and field, and in collegiate wrestling where SFU’s women claimed a national title over the weekend.TRACK AND FIELD
Athletes from Simon Fraser and Trinity …]]>We’re back with more university sports today, this time wrapping up the story in track and field, and in collegiate wrestling where SFU’s women claimed a national title over the weekend.TRACK AND FIELD
Athletes from Simon Fraser and Trinity Western impressed against top-level NCAA Div. 1 competition as the track and field season continued indoors this past weekend at University of Washington Invitational in Seattle.
Against a field of near-exclusive Pac 12 competition at the Dempsey Indoor facility, SFU’s senior 800-metre standout Helen Crofts finished seventh at her specialty distance, but most importantly shaved another two seconds off her NCAA Div. 2-leading time as she fashioned a finish of 2:08.52.
The performance automatically qualified Crofts for the NCAA championship meet.
Crofts and teammates Chantel Desch, Michaela Kane, and Lindsay Butterworth also combined to help SFU finish fifth in the distance medley relay with Div. 2’s best time of the season (11:41.78) as the Clan finished behind two Oregon teams, Stanford, Washington and BYU.
Trinity Western’s Fiona Benson clocked 4:43.34 to finish fifth in the prestigious one mile invitational race, a time that once converted puts her in the upper-echelon of CIS 1,500-metres runners.
TWU’s Emma Nuttall lept a season-best 1.79 metres to tie the University of Oregon’s Chancey Summers for first in the high jump. However she was forced to settle for second on a countback. Every finisher in the top 10 hailed from an NCAA Div. 1 program with the exception of Nuttall.WRESTLING
Led by gold-medal performances in five different weight classes, Simon Fraser won the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association national championship title on Saturday in Tennessee.
The Clan clinched the title when Jenna McLatchy topped Oklahoma City’s Heather O’Connor at 191 pounds in he final match of the competition. SFU finished with 116 points, while Oklahoma City was second at 109.
Other first-place finishes for SFU included Helen Maroulis (130 pounds), Sidney Morrison (143), Danielle Lappage (155) and Justina DiStasio (170).
SFU head coach Mike Jones was named national Coach of the Year.]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/01/27/locals-impress-at-uws-dempsey-indoor-clan-grapplers-win-national-title/feed/0CroftshowardtsumuraHOC RE-VISITED: Nielsen’s patient approach to progress put javelin thrower on right flighthttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/06/18/hoc-re-visited-nielsens-patient-approach-to-progress-put-javelin-thrower-on-right-flight/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/06/18/hoc-re-visited-nielsens-patient-approach-to-progress-put-javelin-thrower-on-right-flight/#commentsMon, 18 Jun 2012 08:47:02 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=78477Kyle Nielsen remembers the seed being planted in his head from the moment his career in the javelin had begun at the University of Washington.

“As soon as I got there in my freshman year, I noticed that in our …

]]>Kyle Nielsen remembers the seed being planted in his head from the moment his career in the javelin had begun at the University of Washington.

“As soon as I got there in my freshman year, I noticed that in our locker room, they had all of the top 10 performances at our school in all of the events posted in frames on the wall,” related Nielsen, a member of The Province’s 2007 Head of the Class. “The locker they gave me, right across from it was this frame with the distances of the top 10 throws in the javelin. I am not sure if my coach planned it that way or it was just fate, but I got to stare at it a lot and that became a big goal of mine over the next four years.”

True to his competitive demeanor, Nielsen went about chasing down that dream, and in May of 2011, in the next-to-last meet of his collegiate career, he broke the 22-year-old Washington record of 76.08 metres at the NCAA West Regional championships in Eugene, Ore., unleashing a throw of 77.24 metres.

“That record was set the year that I was born,” Nielsen said of the mark held since 1989 by Darryl Roberson.

From throwing at the famed Penn Relays as a high schooler at Coquitlam’s Centennial Secondary, to setting the B.C. high school record of 66.81 metres as a senior in June of 2007, to placing third at the NCAA Div. 1 national championships as a junior in 2010, to breaking the UW all-time record, Nielsen has managed to build a base of experiences which have helped him spearhead his journey to the sport’s ultimate field of competition: The Olympics.

Where is he on that journey at present?

Nielsen is set to attend the Canadian Olympic team trials in Calgary from June 27-30, but has thus far been unable to meet the qualifying standards. Competitors need to make the ‘B’ standard of 79.5 metres twice in a time frame that began April 1 and runs through the trials, or make the ‘A’ standard of 82 metres. They would then need to finish in the top three at the trials to make the team headed to the London games.

Over his last three meets, Nielsen has come up short, hitting 77.17 at a meet in Tucson, 74.20 at the recent Harry Jerome meet, and on Wednesday in his last meet before the trials, a 72.21 at the Victoria Invitational.

It hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the sport.

“I am leaning towards these next four years being predominantly a javelin thrower,” explains Nielsen, who has graduated with a degree in environmental construction management and would eventually like to begin establishing himself in the business world. “It would be great if I made London, but really, 2016 (in Rio de Janeiro) is the one that I should be at, making the final and pushing for a medal if everything lines up.”

That makes sense, especially if Nielsen can follow the same path of recent improvement turned in by fellow B.C. thrower and 2005 Head of the Class honoree Curtis Moss of Burnaby Central.

As a high school senior in 2005, Moss — two years Nielsen’s elder — broke the B.C. prep meet record with a throw of 61.89. Nielsen then came along two seasons later and beat that throw by almost five full metres. However Moss now looks ready for the global field in London, having won both the Jerome and Victoria meets with respective 80.43 and 81.21 throws, both meeting the ‘B’ standard.

Coming off a celebrated collegiate career in which he was three times honoured as an NCAA All-American, Nielsen has done more than ponder the time in his life when he will no longer be throwing the javelin. He has worked hard to insure that he will be able to pour the same kind of passion he has for javelin, into a more traditional post-sports career.

In 2007, he headed to Washington wanting to pursue a degree in construction management, but once there found so many of the classes he needed to take to work towards the degree, clashed with his javelin practices. However he was able to find a way, through the school’s individualized studies program, to handpick his own curriculum. What came out in the mix was a degree in environmental construction management.

“I want to be able to do project management, but to be able to work on sustainable projects,” says Nielsen. “What’s great about it, is that I can get on a project for a month or two, work, and then go back to training. Maybe if I was a 100-metre sprinter, and I knew I was getting more money for being a track athlete, it would be different. But javelin throwers? I don’t know if we’re on the highest pay scale. So this piece of paper (degree) is definitely important.”

Kyle Nielsen has always had a long-term blueprint in mind, but for the next few years, the kind of construction he has in mind is all about building a foundation that allows him to throw his body and soul to the wind.

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/06/18/hoc-re-visited-nielsens-patient-approach-to-progress-put-javelin-thrower-on-right-flight/feed/0Nielsen feature imagehowardtsumuraNAIA Uni notes: ‘Birds on track at nats, Vikes complete rarest of sweeps at golf nationalshttp://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/05/26/naia-uni-notes-birds-on-track-at-nats-vikes-complete-rarest-of-sweeps-at-golf-nationals/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/05/26/naia-uni-notes-birds-on-track-at-nats-vikes-complete-rarest-of-sweeps-at-golf-nationals/#commentsSun, 27 May 2012 02:33:26 +0000http://blogs.theprovince.com/?p=76046With Maria Bernard and its 4×800-metre relay team leading the way, the UBC Thunderbirds women’s team fashioned a seventh-place finish in the 57-team field at the NAIA national track and field championships, which wrapped up Saturday in Marion, Ind.

Bernard, …

]]>With Maria Bernard and its 4×800-metre relay team leading the way, the UBC Thunderbirds women’s team fashioned a seventh-place finish in the 57-team field at the NAIA national track and field championships, which wrapped up Saturday in Marion, Ind.

Bernard, the freshman from Calgary, placed second in the 1,500 metres (4:31.68) while the relay team of Heather Slinn, Mariah Robinson, Devan Wiebe and Bernard set a new school record in a time of 8:58.26, a time that was swift enough to also net a silver medal.

Wiebe won bronze in the 800 metres (2:10.10), while the Birds’ distance team shone, placing three in the top 15 of marathon, led by Abbotsford’s Sarah Reimer who was third in 2:58.56.50.

On the men’s side, UBC earned its only gold medal of the meet when Kitimat racewalker Ben Thorne won the 5,000-metre racewalk (22:41.3), finishing more than 16 seconds ahead of the his nearest competition. It marked the fifth straight year that the UBC men have won the event.

GOLF

The University of Victoria’s Carson Kallis shot a five-under 66 on Friday, finishing at five-under 283 to win the men’s NAIA golf championships at Creekside Golf Club in Salem, Ore., one shot ahead of Texas Wesleyan’s Nathan Anderson.

“If Carson gets on a run, there is no telling what he’s going to do,” said Vikes’ head coach Bryan Carbery of Kallis who carded seven birdies and an eagle over his final round. “He made a lot of birdies today and made some great par saves on 17 and 18.”

The Vikes finished seventh overall in the team standings.

The win capped an improbable season of Vikes golf as Victoria’s Megan Woodland won the women’s individual NAIA title the week previous.

The UBC men’s team finished third at nationals, 10 strokes off the pace of overall champion Oklahoma City. The Birds were led by second-year standout Scott Malo, who placed fifth overall with a total of 290.

Both schools now take part in the Golf Canada University-College championships beginning Tuesday at Victoria’s Cordova Bay.

]]>The Simon Fraser Clan emerged golden three times over the weekend, claiming a trio of firsts at the NCAA Div. 2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference track and field championships at Oregon’s Willamette University.

On the men’s side, senior Ryan Brockerville capped his collegiate career by winning the 3,000 metre steeplechase in a new GNAC record of 8:47.26, edging two-time champion Michah Chelimo of Alaska Anchorage (8:47.33) over the final 20 metres.

The Brockerville-Chelimo race had the crowd on its feet. With 400 metres to go, Chelimo made his charge but Brockerville had schemed with Townsend before the race on how important it was going to be to answer that final kick.

“It was so inspiring,” said SFU head coach Brit Townsend. “He really wanted to finish his career with a win. They were side-by-side. Ryan hurdled the last water jump, he just flew over.”

On the women’s side, North Vancouver’s Lindsey Butterworth, No. 1-ranked in the 800 metres, skipped that race to focus on the 1,500 metres and won in a personal best 4:28.77, four seconds better than second-place Susan Tanui of Alaska Anchorage.

“Our kids are going to be running all summer and I want them to have something left,” reasoned Townsend of keeping the former Handsworth Royals standout out of the 800. “I wanted to see quality.”

The 800 however, saw the Clan well represented, and it was the school’s best overall race of the weekend.

The Clan placed three runners in top seven with Sarah Sawatzky second (2:12.50), Michaela Kane third (2:13.78) and Abbey Vogt seventh (2:14.95). Seattle Pacific’s McKayla Fricker won in a time of 2:11.79.

Jade Richardson won the discus with a throw of 42.53 metres. She trailed heading into the final round, where she was able to come through with her clutch throw, which tied her for first with Montana State-Billings’ Leeza Henry.

Judges then looked back on the throws made by each, and Richardson was able to claim gold because her second-best effort of 40.11 topped Henry’s second-best effort of 39.82.

“Great weekend for Jade, and was terrific because she needed to make her last throw to win it,” said Townsend.

Although the Clan finished their probationary status with the meet, and next year can contend to send competitors to the national meet, Townsend said the road ahead is still long.

“We need to build our numbers,” she said. “It won’t happen overnight. Some of the schools down here this weekend were coming with teams of 50 to 60 (athletes) and we came with half of that.”

Yet the quality of the Clan contingent was reflected in a number of areas, including that 800-metre final because all three of its finishers are 400-metre runners.

Other top Clan performances:

*Adam Reid finished third in the final of the 800 metres (1:52.73).

*Mercedes Rhode finished fourth in long jump (5.53 metres)

UBC THUNDERBIRDS

*The UBC Thunderbirds played host to its Last Chance Qualifier meet on Friday, with a trio of ‘Birds claiming first-place finishes.

On the men’s side, Luc Bruchet (3:53.60) and Justin Kent (3:53.68) took the top two placings.

On the women’s side: Devan Wiebe won the 800 metres (2:11.30), Erin Templeton the long jump (5.47 metres).

Other results:

Surrey’s Sabrina Nettey, a former Head of the Class honouree, won the women’s 100 metres in a time of 12.24 seconds.

New Westminster Spartans Manisha Kandola won the high jump (1.58) with Vancouver Olympic Club’s Jessica Hanson second (1.55).

Tiffany Hernandez of Kajaks won the javelin (41.95).

On the men’s side:

Ivan Staeheli was first in the 100 metres (11.60).

In the 400, Mike Adair (51.36) took first, while in the 800, top placer was Coastal Track’s Adam Paul-Morris (1:54.49).

Ahmad Nizamani of New West Spartans won the long jump (6.16 metres).

]]>http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/05/12/clan-tf-earns-trio-of-gnac-gold-medals-birds-play-host-at-last-chance-qualifier-meet/feed/0Mr. Ryan BrockervillehowardtsumuraNAIA track: Brit's record falls 25 years later, but to to who?http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/05/29/naia-track-brits-record-falls-25-years-later-but-to-to-who/
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/05/29/naia-track-brits-record-falls-25-years-later-but-to-to-who/#commentsSun, 29 May 2011 08:27:00 +0000/theprovince/blogs/littlemanoncampus/archive/2011/05/29/naia-track-brit-s-record-falls-25-years-later-but-to-to-who.aspx

Helen Crofts and Jessica Smith were at their fleetest Saturday at the NAIA track and field championships in Marion, Indiana.

Crofts, a junior, set a new NAIA national championship meet record in the 800 metres, finishing in 2:02.12 to break …

]]>

Helen Crofts and Jessica Smith were at their fleetest Saturday at the NAIA track and field championships in Marion, Indiana.

Crofts, a junior, set a new NAIA national championship meet record in the 800 metres, finishing in 2:02.12 to break a 25-year record that was set by none other than Brit Townsend, her current coach at SFU. In1986, Townsend ran a 2:03.89.

“It was my record but she’s thrilled and I am thrilled that she got it,” said Townsend by phone after the meet. I said to her before (the race) ‘What do you want to do?’ I said ‘I think you should go for it.’ I would rather it be one of my athletes that broke it than somebody else. And she went completely by herself. Unbelievable. 2:02. That was her best time ever.”

Smith continued to own the 1,500 metres as the senior sensation improved on her gold-medal time of a season ago (4:27.78), claiming the national title in a time of 4:24.58.

“She ran that race like a pro,” said Townsend. “it went out slow. Everyone was waiting for her to take the lead. She was patient. We all throught she was boxed in, but she was so patient. And the last lap she ran 61 seconds which was amazing. She just blew the field away.”

On Friday, Crofts and Smith joined forces with Brianna Kane and Lindsey Butterworth to win the 3,200-metre relay in an NAIA record time of 8:41.76.

The Clan women finished the day after a three-hour rain and lightning delay by placing second in the 4×400-metre relay in a new school record time of 3:42.05. Brianna and Michaela Kane, as well as Smith and Crofts made up the foursome.

SFU finished fourth overall in the women’s team standings.

Also on Friday, UBC racewalkers walked the walk as Evan Dunfee and Nicola Evangelista each won gold in their respective 5,000-metre events and each set new NAIA championship meet standards in the process. Dunfee won the men’s race in 20:02.25, while Evangelista won the women’s race in 23.18.91.

Former Abbotsford-MEI standout Natasha Miller, a senior at Biola (Calif.) University, won her third straight NAIA heptathlon title on Friday, her 5,392 total points the fourth highest inthe history of the event.

On the men’s side for SFU, Ryan Brockerville accounted for all of the Clan’s 10 points after winning the steeplechase (8:51.78).

NCAA TRACK AND FIELD

Kyle Nielsen, a member of The Province’s 2007 Head of the Class, set a University of Washington record in the javelin with a throw of 77.24 metres at the NCAA West preliminary championships which wrapped up Saturday in Eugene at the University of Oregon. The results sends the Huskies seniorand Coquitlam-Centennial grad to the NCAA championship meet June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa.

GOLF

The UBC Thunderbirds carded their best team round of the tournament on the fourth and final day of play and parlayed that score of 291 into a second place finish at the NAIA men’s national championships Friday in Silvis, Ill. UBC finished at 1172, well behind tourney champ Oklahoma Christian (1150).